Lasagna is a hearty and comforting dish that layers thin sheets of pasta with a flavorful mixture of seasoned ground beef, velvety béchamel sauce, and tangy marinara sauce. Each layer of pasta holds the savory blend of ingredients, creating a symphony of tastes and textures as it bakes to perfection. I think Lasagna is Italian Biryani, very addicting but a lot of us are intimidated by all that layering and extra cooking steps. Here is my foolproof recipe of lasagna with homemade sauce you are going to love. By all means, feel free to add more spices and adjust it to your taste buds.
Ingredients for lasagna
Lasagna sheets
Boil your pasta sheets according to the package directions. Once al dente rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and set it aside. For this version of lasagna, I didn’t use ready-to-bake lasagna sheets, but you can always use them. So, you spend less time cooking and prepping. They are ready to go in the oven to bake, and layer everything.
Cheese
Lasagna has a lot of cheese, I used fresh mozzarella and grated colby jack for layering the cheese in between the layers. I have sliced the fresh mozzarella and used a grated colby jack. It is best to grate your cheese for maximum freshness and cheesy texture.
Ingredients for homemade meat sauce
Beef
To make the meat sauce I used beef, cooked it down, and added all of the spices. You can also make this with chicken or add the ground sausage of your choice.
Pasta sauce/tomato sauce
To make this easy lasagna I used a 16 oz can of tomato sauce. You can use any pasta sauce of your choice which is easier to use. Just season the meat and then add pasta sauce or tomato sauce.
What is Béchamel or white sauce?
Béchamel sauce, also known as white sauce, is a classic French sauce that serves as a base for many dishes. It is made by whisking together equal parts of butter and flour to create a roux, which is then cooked gently to eliminate the raw taste of flour. Warm milk is gradually added while stirring continuously, resulting in a smooth and creamy sauce.
Baking time
For a 9×13 lasagna dish, I bake it at 375°F for 30 minutes covered, and then for another 5-10 minutes uncovered. Once it’s nicely golden take it out of the oven and rest the lasagna for at least 20 minutes for the layers to set before cutting it.
How to serve Lasagna
It is important to rest the lasagna for at least 20 minutes before cutting it so the layer gets time to set. Lasagna is a complete meal, you do not need a side dish, but if you want, add a side salad and enjoy. You can also add some crushed chilies and parmesan cheese on the side to serve it.
Lasagna with homemade sauce
Ingredients
- 16 oz lasagna 1 package
- 1 lb mozzarella shredded
- 1/2 cup parmesan
- 3 cups shredded cheese any cheese of your choice
Meat sauce
- 1.5 lbs minced beef
- 16 oz tomato sauce or pasta sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 medium onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- few basil leaves
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes optional
Ingredients for béchamel sauce
- 1 stick butter (half a cup)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1.5 cups half and half
- 1.5 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil lasagna sheets according to the package directions. Don’t overcook as they’ll also bake.
Prepare meat sauce
- Heat oil in a pan, add your minced beef, and break it down as much as possible, cook for 4-5 minutes on medium-high heat.
- Now add chopped onion, crushed garlic, and all of the spices. Add tomato/marinara sauce and tomato paste. Cook for 4-5 more minutes. Add water and let it simmer on low heat while you make your white sauce
Prepare béchamel sauce
- Heat butter in a pan on medium low heat, add all purpose flour and cook it for 3-4 minutes.
- Now add half and half, and whole milk while stirring constantly. Add salt and pepper and freshly grated Parmesan.
- Your sauce is ready once it leaves a mark of your finger on the back of the spoon.
Layer lasagna
- Preheat your oven at 375°F
- Thinly slice your mozzarella cheese and grate the rest of the cheese.
- Add a layer of white sauce, lasagna sheets, meat sauce, white sauce, and cheese.
- Keep repeating until you have used all of the materials.
- Adding white sauce at the bottom of the pan will prevent it from sticking.
Bake the lasagna
- Cover it with aluminum foil and bake for half an hour, then bake for another 5 minutes uncovered. You can also broil it for the last two minutes but keep an eye on it because it can burn quickly.
- Take out the lasagna and wait 20 min before cutting.